Makati Columbarium

Opened just last week, the Makati Columbarium stands at the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and Nicanor Garcia Street in Barangay Valenzuela. This isn’t just another columbarium. It’s a testament to the city’s commitment to its residents, the Proud Makatizens. The Makati Columbarium offers its services at affordable prices. It prioritizes safety, convenience, and a healthy environment. The need for a city columbarium arose from the high cost of burial plots in cemeteries and private columbariums. The Makati Columbarium offers a solution. The city provides subsidies to make these services even more accessible, especially for Makati residents. The prices are lower than those of private columbariums or crematoriums in Metro Manila. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities receive a 50 percent discount. All other residents receive a 25 percent discount. The Makati Columbarium sits on a 4,000-square-meter property. This property once housed the Makati Catholic Cemetery. Two buildings are already fully operational. They feature landscaped gardens and parking spaces. The administration building houses the administration office. It also includes a main chapel and an eco-friendly crematorium. The columbarium has its Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Behind the administration building is a three-story building. This building holds the columbary vaults. Currently, 14,784 vault units are available. Each vault measures 30 x 30 x 50 centimeters. A single vault can hold three standard-size urns or four small-size urns. Each vault has a tile cover and is arranged across seven levels, from A to G. The ground floor has eight viewing chapels. Each floor above has a lobby lounge, comfort rooms, a lift for people with disabilities, and common stairs. The Makati Columbarium is a public-private partnership (PPP). This means the city didn’t bear the full cost of construction and operation. While non-residents can purchase vaults, only Proud Makatizens receive the city’s subsidy. The columbarium will continue to expand in the coming months. The private partner will construct additional structures. These will include more crypts and viewing chapels. No further city funds will be needed for this expansion. The Makati Columbarium represents a legacy project for the city administration and a tangible benefit for the Proud Makatizens.